SHOWCASE 2. CELL 2-42

Schematic Diagram To Showcase  |  To the Cell To Theme Tours

There were over 15 different BC-348 models manufactured in the USA starting 1938. The total number of BC-348 receivers manufactured during WWII exceeded 100,000. Most massive production was on 1943 orders which have been awarded to Belmont Radio (BC-348-R) and Wells Gardner (BC-348-Q). 

We have both BC-348-R and BC-348-Q in our collection. From the first glance, both "-R" and "-Q" models look quite similar yet there are certain differences both on the front panel (like antenna tuning capacitor in the "-R" model) and in the schematics. 

WHD = 460 х 210 х 230 mm. There was FT-154 mounting base used with BC-348 when in the airplanes. 

The BC-348 receivers were first used as part of SCR-260 and SCR-287 liaison radio sets together with BC-349 and BC-375 transmitters, and later as part of AN/ARC-8 liaison radio along with AN/ART-13 radio transmitting set. 

The AN/ARC-8 was installed in B-29, B-36 and B-58 bombers. Several B-29's have landed in the USSR Far East in 1945 after bombing Japan and were arrested by the Soviet authorities because formally USSR had not yet announced state of war with Japan at that time. American flight crews were sent back to the United States while B-29 bombers were detained in the Soviet Union. 

By late 1945, the Soviet government requested that an exact replica of B-29 "Superfortress" bomber was made by Tupolev works including exact replicas of all the airborne equipment. In 1947, first test flights of newly born Tu-4 strategic bomber took place having US-9 receiver and RSB-70 transmitter onboard. 

The BC-348-R served as a prototype for the US-9 receiver which was manufactured in the USSR in big quantities from 1948 till 1987 undergoing 10 modifications. It was the most popular Soviet airborne receiver then, used both by military and civil aviation. The "US" acronym has nothing to do with the United States, and stands for "Universalny Supergeterodyn" (Versatile Superhet).